Introduction

As the global community increasingly recognizes the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices, local jurisdictions have become essential players in addressing this complex issue. Contra Costa County, nestled in the heart of California, is no exception. With a commitment to preserving its natural resources and enhancing the quality of life for its residents, the county has implemented a range of waste policies and programs to manage its waste effectively.

This scorecard provides a comprehensive overview of Contra Costa County’s waste management policies and data, focusing on key metrics such as disposal rates, the number of programs local jurisdictions have implemented, recycling rates, beneficial reuse initiatives, and the distance trash has to travel to reach a landfill. By examining these metrics, we gain insight into the county’s efforts to reduce waste, promote recycling, and minimize its environmental impact.

All data used is sourced from CalRecycle’s Publicly available data sets, ensuring transparency and accountability.

County Waste Scores

Many Contra Costa Cities are a part of larger Jurisdiction Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority (CCCSWA) (Recyclesmart) includes: Danville, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Orinda, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, and Walnut Creek. West Contra Costa integrated Solid Waste Management Authority (WCCIWIMA) (Recyclemore) includes:El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, and Hercules.

Important Waste Criteria

Programs include but are not limited to California Redemption Value (CRV) Buyback Center, Composting and Gardening Programs, Environmental Action Programs for Schools, Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) and Used Oil Recycling. These programs are standardized across the state. The US average disposal rate per capita in 2018 according to the EPA was 4.9 pounds. All Contra Costa Cities are below this mark for 2022.

Where are the Landfills in Contra Costa County

Hover over the points to see the name of each site!

How is Waste Produced

Different businesses produce different types and amounts of waste. This data is from a 2014 study by CalRecycle. Business groups are defined clearly on the Calrecycle website. Example: Services - Professional, Technical, & Financial is described as radio and television broadcasting, telecommunications and other information and technology activities. Also included are all financial services, real estate, durable goods rental and companies that provide professional, scientific and technical services that use expertise more than equipment.

Statewide Enforcement

CalRecycle, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, is responsible for overseeing and enforcing waste management regulations in California, including Contra Costa County. It has a range of enforcement actions at its disposal to ensure compliance with waste management laws and regulations

Where does your Waste Go

The size of the circles indicate the amount of waste sent to each facility by Contra Costa residents. Zoom in!

Data Description and Citation

The data used in this analysis includes the following:

Programs https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/LGCentral/DiversionProgram/ProgramCountSummary Number of programs and per cap disposal rate https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/LGCentral/DiversionProgram/JurisdictionDiversionPost2006 Total Tonnage https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/RecyclingDisposalReporting/Reports/OverallJurisdictionTonsForDisposal How is Waste Produced https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/WasteCharacterization/BusinessGroupStreams?lg=1007&cy=7 Statewide Enforcement https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/Docs/EnforcementOrder/ Map of sites Contra Costa sends waste https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/RecyclingDisposalReporting/Reports/JurisdictionDisposalAndBeneficial

If you have any questions or comments about this report or the data sources used, please feel free to reach out to the author at

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